It’s Saturday morning. In your life before type 2 diabetes, that meant sleeping in before sitting down to a big breakfast. The day ahead? Maybe watching a college football game on TV, or sitting in a comfortable chair with a book.

That was then. This is now, and you’re learning to manage diabetes through lifestyle changes. Saturday morning means getting up and checking your blood-sugar levels. Then it’s a healthy, balanced breakfast. Then you set out for a long walk, a trip to the gym, or a bike ride. That afternoon football game or reading you once enjoyed? Absolutely fine, as long as you’ve exercised and eaten well earlier in the day — just lay off the chips you used to snack on as you relaxed.

Must-Do Basics for Type 2 Diabetes Management

As you manage diabetes through lifestyle changes, your goal is to keep your blood-sugar levels steady and within a narrow range. Your healthcare provider will advise you on how often you should check your blood-sugar levels. Depending on your situation, your doctor may recommend that you test once a day, or more often. Your doctor will also set the blood-sugar numbers you should aim for in your results. There are several types of devices you can use to test a drop of blood from your finger; your diabetes care team can help you choose the one that’s right for you.

Diabetes doesn’t take a day off, and now that you've been diagnosed, neither should you. Your basic battle plan:

Before you developed diabetes, you may have frequently eaten on the fly, skipped meals, and relied on fast food. Now, you choose fresh fruits and vegetables; lean proteins, like poultry and fish; and high-fiber foods, such as whole-grain breads and cereals, brown rice, and oatmeal. When you’re cooking, you use low-fat cooking methods and broil, bake, stir-fry, or grill your food instead of frying it. When you dine out, you avoid foods the menu describes as buttery, batter-dipped, crispy, with gravy, or with cheese sauce. And when your food is served, you practice mindful eating — taking your time, noticing the colors, textures, and aromas. You enjoy every bite, especially as you consider how it’s helping you keep you diabetes in check.

Fitness That Works for You

As you manage diabetes through lifestyle changes, your relationship with exercise will change, too. To keep your blood-sugar levels steady, you must establish a consistent exercise routine. If you stick to your exercise plan — and you need to — you may well end up in the best shape you’ve been in for years.